Brace bracket for scaffolds and the like



Sept. 30, 1952 J. A. KIRKPATRICK 2,612,414

BRACE BRACKET FOR SCAFFOLDS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1950 PatentedSept. 30, 1952 BRACE BRACKET FOR SCAFFO-LDS .IANDIIHE LIKE John A.Kirkpatrick, Zelienople, Pa., assignor to Universal Manufacturing,0orp.,Zelienople, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 21,(01. 304-40) I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the bracing of metal scafiolds, bleachers andthe like, and more particularlyto the bracketsby which braces aredetachably connected to the legs'ofsuch structures.

For the sake of illustration this invention will be described as appliedto metal scaffolds formed from spaced end panels that are connected byremovable braces-but .itis not limited thereto.

It is among the objects of'this invention to provide such'bracingwherein the braces are detachably connected to brackets which are boltedto the legs of scaffolds or the like, which can-be applied to the innersides of end panel legs, which are inexpensive to make and apply, whichautomatically lock the braces in place, and which permit the braces tobe rotated in a horizontal plane around the brackets.

' According to this invention the bracket includes a supporting memberthat is formed for attachment'to the side of a leg that is to be braced.Preferablythe supporting member is shaped to .fit part wayaround the legand is provided with a transversehole for receiving a bolt or rivet thatfastens it to the leg. Extending upward from the supporting member, andpreferably integral with it, is a vertical pin. This pin is designed tohave the perforated end of a brace slid down over it. jects laterally atthe upper end of the pin and is movable into and out of a position inwhich it will overlie the brace to hold it'down on the pin. The lockingmember preferably is a latch which is pivotally mounted in a verticalslot in the pin, the upper end of the latch having a lateral projectionthat normally swings outward by gravity to overlie the brace. of acasting .and be provided with a pairof laterally spaced pins so that twobraces can be attached to each bracket.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of asection of a scaffold provided with my bracing; Fig. 2 is an enlargedfront view of one of the brackets; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionthrough a leg, showing a, bracket from above; and Fig. 4 is acombination side view and section of the bracket taken on the line IVIVof Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of a pair of verticalprefabricated scaffold end frames of any suitable construction hastubular legs I that may be rigidly connected by horizontal cross members2, upon which wooden planking (not shown) may be placed to form aworking platform. When thescaffold is assembled the end provided with atransverse hole for receiving a 1950, Serial No. 196,832

frames are held upright by means of crossed, inclined side braces 3. Inorder to detachably connect the ends of the braces to the scaffold legs,brackets 4 are fastened to each leg near its upper and lower ends. Thebrackets preferably are mounted on the inside of each leg; 1. e., theside of'the leg nearest to the other leg of the same frame. H

Each bracket 4 prefe'rablyis formed from a metal casting, the lowerportion of which is a supporting member '5 for two laterally spacedcylindrical pins 6 extending upward from it in parallel relation. Oneside of the supporting member is provided with a semicircular recess 1(Fig. 3) that allows the member to fit about halfway around'theadjoining leg of the scaffold. The central part of the supporting memberis 4 bolt 8 that extends horizontally through the leg.

A locking member pro- The bracket may be made -A nut 9 on the outer endof the bolt holds the head of the bolt against the bracket and therebyattachesit to the leg.

Each of the bracket pins 6 is provided with a vertical slot ll extendingdiametrically through it and downward from its upper end for about halfthe length of the pin. The exact length of the slot is not material.Loosely disposed in the slot is a latch I2, the lower end of which ispivotally mounted on a rivet l3 extending across the lower portion ofthe slot near one side of the pin. The pin is provided with smallrecesses M (Fig. 2) for receiving the heads of the rivet so that theywill not project out beyond the surface of the pin. The latch preferablyprojects above the top of the pin and has a convex upper surface. Nopart of the latch is wider than the pin. The side of the latch'oppositeto the rivet-is provided with a notch l 6, the upper wall of which issubstantially horizontal when the latch is upright, as shown in brokenlines in Fig. 4. The inner wall of the notch is inclined from the innerend of its upper wall downward to the wide lower end of the latch. Thenotch reduces the width of a portion of the latch so that it can swingoutward even though the pin is surrounded by the end of a brace 3, asshownin Fig. 4. The notch also forms a projection or nose between thetop of the notch and the top of the latch, which projects laterally fromthe side of the pin when the latch is in its outer position. Due to thelocation of the latch pivot at one side of the center of gravity of thelatch, the latch normally will swing away from rivet l3 by gravity, asshown in full lines in Fig. 4. Outward movement of the latch is limited,when a brace sleeve is not encircling the The upper ends of the latchesthen swing outward by gravity to keep the braces from accidentally beingremoved from the pins. When it is desired to disconnect thebraces'fromthe iegsi l the upper ends of the bracket latches are pushedback manually to the broken lineposition of-.-Fig.

4, so that the braces can be slid up over the upper end of the latchesand lifted from the bracket pins.

It will be seen that in this bracing the braces are locked on thebrackets by latches thatautomatically swing out into locking position bygravity assoon as the brace sleeves pass down over them. The braces.then can not be removed. fromthe brackets until the. latches have beenswung. manually into upright position. The lockingmechanismis of simpleconstruction and there. is nothing aboutit to get out of orderl'or tocause it to. fail to operate. Since the sleeves at the ends of thebraces are short, they donot extend. very, far above. the. bracketswhen. lifted therefrom, with the. result that the brackets can bemounted on, the inside of-the. scaffold legs or. diagonal braces inaddition to the. inclined braces, that can be done. by providing thebrackets with pinslong enough to receive both types of braces.

According to the provisions of statutes, I have explained. the principleof my invention and have illustrated and described what I now considerto representits. best emstood that, Within the. scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be pr'acticed'otherwise than. as specificallyillustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Abracket fondetachabl'yconnectinga brace having a perforatedendto aleg of a scaffoldjand the. like, the bracket comprising-a supportingmember formed forattachmentto the sideof said leg, a vertical. pinextending upward from .saidmember and adaptedto have the end of a braceslid down over it, the pin being provided with a slotextending downwardfrom its upper end, andalatch pivotally mountedin the slot and havingalateral projection. atitsupper end the .patent bodiment. However, Idesire to'have it underfor overlying the brace to lock it on the pinwhen the latch swings outward in the slot.

2. A bracket for detachably connecting a brace having a perforated endto a leg of a scafiold and the like, the bracket comprising a supportingmember formed for attachment to the side of i said leg, a vertical pinextending-.upward from said member and adapted to have theend of a braceslid down merit, the pin being provided with a slot extending downwardfrom its upper end, a latch disposed in the slot and having a lateralprojection at its upper end, and a pivot connecting the lower end of thelatch to the pin at a. point that causes said projection to swingoutwardaway'from the pin by gravity, whereby theprojection will. overliethe end of the brace and. hold .it down .on the pin. I

3. A bracketfor'detachably connecting braces having perforated ends to aleg of a scafiold and the like, the bracket comprising a supportingmember curved to fit part way. around said leg andhavingatransverse holeadapted to receive. a fastening member. for attachin'gsaid member totheleg, a pair. oflaterally spaced. pins extending upward. from the. topof saidmember and each adaptedto have .the end of a brace slid downoverit, each pin being provided. with a slot extending downward from itsupper end, .a,. latchdisposed in the slotand havinga. lateral projectionat its upper end, and. a pivot. connecting the;lower end of the latchto.th-e.- pin at. a pointthat causes said projection to..swingoutwardaway from the pin by gravity, whereby the. projection. of' thelatch will overlie the end of thebrace mounted-on the pin thatsupportssaid latch.

4. In. scaffold bracingand the like, a: bracket formed for attachment toa verticalrleg and having a vertical cylindrical pin extending upward, abrace having a-vertical sleeve at its end for sliding, down over saidpin, the pin being provided with a-slot extending downward from itsupper end, and a latch pivotally mounted in the slot and having alateral projection at its upper end for overlyingisaid sleeve to'holdit' down on the]. pin when the latch swings outward in the s o JOHN A.KIRKPATRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS N umber. Name Date 127,100 Patton May 21,1872932,570. Perrine' r .Aug;'31, 1909 1,618,348 Nicolai Feb. 22; 19271,819,031. Kuhlman Aug. 18-, 1931 2,118,467 Jones May '24, 19382,435,171 W6iSZJ Jan. 27, 1948 2,452,461. Harris-" Oct.'26,: 1948FOREIGNPATENTS.

Number. Country Date;

20,633 Great Britain 1903

